Seun, during a recent interview, seized the opportunity to address Nigerian singers who claim to draw inspiration from Fela but act contrary to the beliefs of his late father.
Burna Boy, who was recently named the number one Sub-Saharan African musician by Billboard (based on musical streams), has never shied away from the fact that his style of music is heavily influenced by Fela Kuti’s sound.
Some of the singer’s biggest songs such as ‘Ye’ and ‘My Money, My Baby’ were sampled from Fela’s 1997 ‘Sorrow Tears and Blood’ and 1972 song ‘Shakara’.
Fela’s son, Seun, who has equally scored a Grammy award nomination, spoke in a recent Instagram live interview with record label owner Ubi Franklin, where he frowned at musicians who claim to be influenced by Fela but are “reckless and rude”.
The singer, who is now the leader of his late father’s Egypt 80 band, made the remark when he was asked to speak about artists who claim to be inspired by Fela.
Seun said: “I think a lot of them grow up in Christian and Muslim homes but use Fela as an excuse to smoke and chase girls.
“And also using Fela as a reason to be reckless and rude to your elders. They are not rude to the authorities,” he said.
Seun did not specifically mention Burna Boy’s name, but he obviously made the remark to distance his late father from an incident in February, 2020, where Burna Boy walked out on an interviewer on the VICE TV.
Burna Boy’s mother and his grandfather were said to be on seat when he walked out of the studio, saying the interview was “boring”.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Seun Kuti would be addressing Burna Boy who in a tweet in February, 2020 described himself as the best Nigerian musician after Fela Kuti.
“FACT! I always knew I was and I am THE BEST. Everyone you think is the best KNOWS I’m BEST since Fela Kuti,” said Burna Boy, whose maternal grandfather, Benson Idonije, was Fela’s first band manager.
Seun Kuti, in 2013, tackled Burna Boy after the singer paid tribute to his father during the 2013 Felabration by wearing only pants on stage at the New Afrika Shrine.
Burna Boy performs at 2013 Felabration wearing pants.
“Nna na wa o. I am bald for Christ sake and Fela never wore pants on stage. Tell Burna Boy that!!” he had said.
Seun held that the late Fela only wore pants in his sitting room and never for once performed on stage in his panties.
Burna Boy had topped Billboard’s recent list of fifteen most streamed Sub-Saharan African musicians, leading with 435.57 million streams
He was followed by Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz with 291.98 million streams, Davido 285.76 million streams, while Nigeria’s Wizkid came fifth position with 176.23 million, behind Fally Ipupa who earned the fourth position with 186.5 million streams globally.
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